Warning on Lithium Batteries and Steps You Can Take to Avoid Fires

You may have seen on the news extraordinary CCTV footage, obtained by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), that captured the moment two backpackers were caught in a fireball when a Lithium-ion battery exploded inside a hostel yesterday at Darlinghurst, in inner Sydney.

FRNSW deployed 22 firefighters and six fire trucks to Darlinghurst Road, where the blaze had broken out in a unit shortly after 9am.

It’s suspected to have been sparked by a faulty e-bike battery left on charge.

Security footage from a hallway shows one of the French nationals standing at the doorway and talking to their friend, who was still inside the room when a device suddenly explodes into flames.

 

FRNSW has been warning about the dangers of Lithium Batteries for a while.  In February 2023, we published an article on fires in Chatswood and Epping, which involved Lithium batteries – you can read the article here.

ACCC Issues Warning

In a report published today, the ACCC is warning consumers about serious fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries and is asking consumers to choose, check, use and dispose of the batteries safely.

An ACCC national voluntary survey of more than 4000 Australians found 54 per cent of respondents used aftermarket chargers and 39 per cent did not know how to correctly dispose of lithium-ion batteries. Many respondents said they leave devices unattended while charging.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are contained in common household items, including most mobile phones, laptops, tablets, e-scooters, e-bikes and power tools.

Whilst incidents are rare, they appear to be increasing and are serious when they occur. The batteries can overheat or explode if they are used, charged or disposed of incorrectly or if they are damaged, and fires caused by the batteries can be dangerous and difficult to extinguish.

“We are concerned by increasing reports of lithium-ion battery fires resulting in property damage and serious injuries, including burns, chemical exposure and smoke inhalation,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

One Australian has reportedly died in a lithium-ion battery fire and the ACCC has received 231 product safety reports relating to lithium-ion batteries in the past five years. There have also been 23 recalls affecting an estimated 89,000 products on the market.

Lithium-ion batteries are integral to achieving Australia’s transition to net zero emissions and a circular economy.

The ACCC is seeking to demonstrate the importance of safe battery supply and design to support consumer confidence in the safety of lithium-ion products.

“Consumers should avoid mixing and matching chargers, unplug products when fully charged and charge batteries in a cool, dry place and away from combustible materials like beds, lounges or carpet.”

“Check your lithium-ion batteries for overheating signs of swelling, leaking or venting gas and immediately stop using your product if these signs are present,” Ms Lowe said.

Lithium-ion batteries are more likely to catch fire when exposed to heat and moisture, or crushed – common conditions in garbage trucks and household waste facilities.

“Consumers should keep lithium-ion batteries out of household rubbish and check recyclemate.com.au and bcycle.com.au for information about safe disposal,” Ms Lowe said.

“We recommend that government and industry continue to develop solutions to ensure lithium-ion batteries are safely designed and can be sustainably disposed.”

While lithium-ion battery fires are increasing, incidents are likely underreported because of issues with how information is collected and shared. The ACCC has proposed improved data collection practices to ensure solutions are targeted and effective.

The ACCC has also recommended state and territory governments create a harmonised electrical regulatory framework and establish consistent requirements for the testing, labelling, transportation and storage of lithium-ion batteries.

Tips on Using Lithium Batteries

Below are some tips when using a device powered by a Lithium battery:

• Monitor charging times of lithium-ion products and disconnect products from chargers once they are fully charged. Consider setting timers as a reminder to unplug products.
• Keep lithium-ion batteries out of household garbage or recycling bins and kerbside hard waste collections.
• Charge lithium-ion batteries and products away from combustible materials such as beds, sofas or carpet.
• Store batteries and lithium-ion products in cool, dry places and out of direct sunlight, including while charging.
• Do not use batteries, products or chargers that are overheating or showing signs of failure such as swelling, leaking or venting gas.
• Check the charger you are using is suitable for the product being charged.
• Allow time for batteries to cool after use and before charging.

Further safety advice  about Lithium-ion batteries is available on the FRNSW website – https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/batteries 

LG Energy Solution Australia is recalling almost 17,000 home solar batteries in Australia because they may overheat and catch fire. Further information is on the Product Safety Australia website at LG’s recall and SolaX Power’s recall.